Department profile
Bird & Bird

Employment

France Guide 2026 : France

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Bird & Bird

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About

Provided by Bird & Bird

Our Employment team is made up of lawyers who are experts in labor law & who have also developed a cross-disciplinary approach to the economic & legal issues of the sectors in which our clients operate.


Bird & Bird's Employment Team works closely with the firm's other departments, assists & advises national & international companies, as well as public authorities, on the full range of employment law issues. We regularly lead several large-scale reorganisations & represented our clients in high-stake litigation cases. We assist mainly international groups with a presence in France, on HR transformation projects, cross-border matters, complex employment litigation & matters around work ethics (harassment investigations, working time & burn-out claims, etc.).


Our leitmotiv? To be "facilitators"


The firm has developed a business partner approach. Distinguished by our pragmatic advice & efficiency in execution, in close partnership with in house legal and HR, as well as operational teams, the team is well known for proactive support on all employment issues relating to local & international corporate & commercial transactions, in particular M&A, business transfers, LBO & VC transactions.


Thanks to our distinctive sectoral approach, we have specific industry sector expertise in all areas of activity, including the life sciences, tech & comms & digital economy sectors, and have developed cutting-edge knowledge of these markets & their specific HR issues.

Industries (14)

  • Aerospace & Defence
  • Automobile & Parts
  • Banks
  • Energy
  • Forestry & Paper
  • Healthcare
  • Industrial Engineering
  • Media
  • Pharmaceuticals & Life Sciences
  • Retail
  • Software & Computer Services
  • Sports
  • Telecommunications
  • Transportation

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Employment - France

Band 5

What the Team is Known For

Bird & Bird is a well-established firm offering expertise in company reorganisations, employee litigation and social plans. Additionally well versed in collective and individual terminations, the practice boasts a strong client base hailing from the technology sector. The team is experienced in consultations with works councils.

Notable practitioners

Nathalie Devernay is a key contact at this law firm.

À propos de l’équipe

Bird & Bird est un cabinet bien établi qui offre une expertise en matière de réorganisations d’entreprises, de contentieux et de plans sociaux. De plus, le cabinet a une réputation établie dans les licenciements collectifs et individuels, le cabinet a une clientèle issue du secteur de la technologie. L’équipe est aussi expérimentée dans les consultations avec les comités d’entreprise.

Avocats notables
Nathalie Devernay est une interlocutrice clé au sein de ce cabinet d'avocats.
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Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • Bird & Bird represented the PGG in numerous litigations following a mass redundancy project.

  • Le cabinet Bird & Bird a représenté PGG dans de nombreux litiges suite à un projet de licenciement collectif.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • It is a well-structured, multidisciplinary law firm capable of handling complex cases on an international scale.

    Employment respondentFrance

  • It is a very responsive team and is flexible to help us navigate a challenging workload.

    Employment respondentFrance

  • The law firm is responsive, very business-oriented and pragmatic.

    Employment respondentFrance

  • The team is extremely responsive in case of emergency, including on weekends if necessary.

    Employment respondentFrance

  • The department stands out for its hands-on mentality and consistently practical, actionable advice.

    Employment respondentFrance

  • Ce cabinet d'avocats est réactif, très orienté affaires et pragmatique.

    Employment respondentFrance

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Philippe Thomas
    Philippe Thomas

    Philippe Thomas

    Philippe Thomas operates a strong employment practice and ably handles a wide range of matters, including redundancy plans, harassment cases, litigation and working time policy cases. He joined Bird & Bird in April 2026.

    Philippe Thomas a une importante pratique de droit social et traite avec compétence de nombreux types de dossiers, notamment les plans sociaux, les affaires de harcèlement, les contentieux et les dossier de temps de travail. Il a rejoint Bird & Bird en Avril 2026.

    • He is consistently responsive, providing thoughtful, commercial advice and is a genuine partner to the business.

      Employment respondentFrance

    • He takes into account the general business needs and not only limits his role to the explanation and legal options. He goes above and beyond and gives relevant advice.

      Employment respondentFrance

    • Philippe understands our business very well. He is a very pragmatic lawyer.

      Employment respondentFrance

    • Philippe is an excellent lawyer with a keen business sense and knowledge of the market and its practices.

      Employment respondentFrance

    • He is always very responsive, thorough in his advice, gives a rounded answer and a high level summary.

      Employment respondentFrance
    • Philippe comprend très bien notre secteur d'activité. C'est un avocat très pragmatique.
      Employment respondentFrance

    • Il prend en compte les besoins généraux de l'entreprise et ne se contente pas d'expliquer les options juridiques. Il va bien au-delà et donne des conseils pertinents.

      Employment respondentFrance

    • Philippe est un excellent avocat, doté d'un bon sens des affaires et d'une connaissance approfondie du marché et de ses pratiques.

      Employment respondentFrance

    • Il est toujours disponible, fournit des conseils avisés et pertinents sur le plan commercial et est un véritable partenaire pour l'entreprise.

      Employment respondentFrance

    • Il est toujours très réactif, ses conseils sont complets et il fournit une réponse détaillée ainsi qu'un résumé.

      Employment respondentFrance
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Ranked Individuals at Bird & Bird (1)

France

Members

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